How some U.S. schools are teaching kindness classes

Red Wing, Minnesota — The U.S. spends hundreds of billions each twelvemonth teaching children however to read, constitute and calculate. But what astir kindness? Why isn't that a taxable successful school? Well, successful immoderate places, it is.

Kindness 101 is a programme that uses the stories CBS News finds successful our "On the Road" bid to thatch kindness and character. The stories are paired with acquisition plans created by a nonprofit astatine Iowa's Drake University called "Character Counts!"

"So the thought that we could make curricular resources astir these stories that elevate the champion of our country...and we're going to bash each this truthful that educators don't person to wage to get them," said Scott Raecker, enforcement manager of Character Counts!

Some of the top joys of my occupation are the greetings I get whenever I astonishment 1 of our Kindness 101 classrooms.

A sojourn to Neil Lahammer's 3rd people people astatine Burnside Elementary School successful Red Wing, Minnesota, would beryllium the astir joyful of all. Lahammer is 1 of much than 100,000 teachers who person utilized Kindness 101.

The lessons, which immoderate teacher tin entree astatine Kindess101.com, are being utilized to animate kindness and quality successful millions of children astir the world.

"When I spot the students duplicating what they're seeing successful the videos…and arsenic a teacher, that's gold," responded Lahammer erstwhile asked however helium knows the lessons are sinking in.

"Just makes maine privation to beryllium a amended person," 1 pupil said of the lessons.

The bully vibes are spreading mostly acknowledgment to the Kindness Club Lahammer started.

At slightest erstwhile a week, students springiness up their recess to bash nutrient drives, mitt drives and beforehand kindness passim the school.

"It's conscionable astonishing the mode these kids privation to assistance retired others," Lahammer said.

Lahammer adjacent teaches different teachers successful his territory however to champion usage the curriculum, each successful an effort to make an service of kindness superheroes.

Lahammer was chosen arsenic the first-ever Kindness 101 National Teacher of the Year. The grant was presented successful April astatine a gala successful Des Moines, Iowa, and it volition present go an yearly tradition.

"He makes maine smarter and helium makes maine happier," different pupil told CBS News of Lahammer. "He's my full world."

In:

• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Education